X-: 


[House  of  Representatives.] 

UOUSE  OF    REPRESENTATIVES,   May    26,    1864.— Ordered 
to  be  printed, 

J  By  Mr.  Bafjivvin. — Moved  as  substitute  for  bill  reported  by  Commit- 
tee of  Way8  and  Means.] 


.  JOINT  RIi:SOLUTIO]SrS 

Requiring  the  settlement  of  the  accounts  of  the   Post-Office  Depart- 
ment prior  to  the  first  day  of  July.  1863. 

I  It  appearing  from  the  report  of  the  Postmaster  General,  dated 

!i  May  2,  1864,   that  $276,355  23,  of  the  revenues  of  the   Post- 

S  Office  Department   derived  from  postages   for   the  year   ending 

4  June  30,  18t)2,  have  been  received  and  paid  out  by  the  Depart- 

5  ment  without   auy  appropriation   thereof  made  by  law,  and  that 

6  $2,737,302  30,  of  the  revenues  of  said  Department  derived  from 

7  postages  for  the  year  1863,  have  also  been  received  and  paid  out 

8  by  the  said  Department  without  any  appropriation  thereof  made 

9  by  law,  and  that  for  the  want  of  such  appropriations  the  accounts 

10  of  the  Department  cannot  be  closed,  and  the  Congress  being  of 

1 1  opinion  that  the  said  expenditures  were  in  violation  of  article  I, 

12  section  9,  paragraph  8,  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Confederate 
IS  States,  which  provides  that  "  no  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the 
14  Treasury,  but  in  consequence  of  appropriations  made  by  law;" 


15  but  having  reason   to  believe  that  the  money  has,  in  fact,,  been 

16  fairly  applied  to  the  public  service,  and  that  the  violation  of  biw 

17  has  been  committed  without  any  improper  purpose  on  the  part  of 

18  the  officers  of  the  Post-Office  and  Treasury  Departments;   ther«- 

19  fore— 

I  \.    Be    it  resohrd  by   ///<    Congrtss   of   the  Confedtrate   States  fl/" 

S  America,  That    the    Prepident  cause   the  accounts   of  the  Post- 

3  Office   Department,  prior   to  the   iirst  day  of  July,    1863^  to  be 

4  audited  and  settled,  so  as  to  ascertain  whether,  in  fact,  there  has 

5  been  any  misapplication  of  the  funds  of  the  Department,  and  if  "lie 

6  shall  ascertain  that  the  transactions  of  the  Department  have  been 

7  regular   and   correct,   except    in    having   proceeded  without  aa 

8  appropriation  previously  made,  that  he  shall  cause  the  accounts 

9  to  be  settled  and  closed  to  all   intents  and  purpose  as  if  tbi« 

10  appropriations  had  been  regularly  made  in  adrance  of  the  expen- 

11  ditures. 

1  2.   That  the  President  report  to  Congress,  at  its  next  session,  . 

2  the  results  of  the  investigation  hereinbefore  directed. 


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